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SANCTIONS and their collective imposition against specific countries were accepted by the member states as a valuable element of their collaboration on foreign policy under European political co-operation. European Union (EU) sanctions have been applied on numerous occasions over the years. However, it is debatable whether any had the desired effect upon the embargoed countries, or whether they were not much more than symbolic gestures of EU solidarity. In addition, not all member states are willing to participate in a collective imposition of sanctions against a named country. The most infamous example in recent years involved the imposition of sanctions against Austria in 2000 following the inclusion of the far-right Freedom Party under Jörg Haider in the Austrian Government. The sanctions were strongly resented in Austria and only helped to fuel anti-EU feeling; they were lifted within six months.